Combat Information System

ABSTRACT

The Combat Information System comprises; a heads up display, a set of sensors providing data to the heads up display, and a set of transmitters and receivers for communicating with other like systems and other outside systems.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application listed below is the only application related to thisapplication. This application claims benefit of the earlier filing dateunder 35 USC 119(e) of provisional application No. 61/206,639 filed onFeb. 1, 2009.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No invention claimed in this application was made under Federallysponsored research or development.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to data gathering and display andcommunications systems used in combat and other circumstances whereminimally distractive display of information communications betweenindividuals is of great value.

2. Description of Related Art

The object of the present invention is to provide data to the user in aminimally distractive and real time manner as possible. There are manyinventions known which share this objective with the present invention.The published utility patent applications by Scales et al (Nos.20080204361, 20060121993) and The utility patent to Michel et al et al(U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,308) using goggles or a video camera to accomplishthe purpose are examples.

The utility patent to Stallman et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,539) disclosesmodular, wearable, weapon integrated computer systems for gathering andtransmitting data, wherein the systems include components tailorable forspecific conditions or missions . . . and for communicating with remotesystem wearers.

The utility patent to Gross et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,481) discloses ahelmet based system.

A number of inventions attempt to improve the users accuracy by directlyintervening in the operation of the users weapon. The International(World) patent application by Klein (Publication No. 2009111833) and USPublished utility patent application by Lenner et al (Publication No.20060005447) are typical.

The circumstances of combat place a premium on the ability to identifyfriendly personnel from hostile personnel. The utility patent to Milbert(U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,206) a system which utilizes a head mounted displayto assist in this function.

The present invention attempts to provide the above identifiedinformation, along with other data to combat personnel in a heads updisplay placed on the users weapon sight and other locations relevant tothe users mission during actual combat or training exercises.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Combat Information System comprises; a heads up display, a set ofsensors providing data to the heads up display, and a set oftransmitters and receivers for communicating with other like systems andother outside systems.

The Combat Information System is intended to provide real timeinformation sharing among a team of combatants. The Combat InformationSystem may consist of a data gathering unit that does not include aheads up display. This unit records sensor data and may transfer and/orrelay data over a communication link.

It will be appreciated that each embodiment is optimized for use underthe relevant circumstances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an overview diagram the Combat Information System

FIG. 2 is a left front view of a Heads Up Display Attached to a Firearm

FIG. 3 is a left rear view of a Heads Up Display Attached to a Firearm

FIG. 4 is a side view of a Heads Up Display Attached to a Helmet

FIG. 5 is a left front view of a Data Gathering Unit

FIG. 5A is a left rear view of a Data Gathering Unit

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example Combat Team

FIG. 7 is a top level data flow diagram of the Combat Information System

FIG. 8 is a detailed data flow diagram of the Combat Information System

FIG. 9 is a diagram of example Sensors and Data Determination

FIG. 10 is a left rear view of the Optics, with a Covering Case

FIG. 11 is a left rear view of the Internal Optics

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the Internal Optics

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how the Heads Up Display is Focused atInfinity

FIG. 14 is a top view of the Internal Optics, with Variable TintElements

FIG. 15 is a top view of the Internal Optics, with Moveable TintElements

FIG. 16 is a diagram of the Internal Optics, with EnvironmentalProtection Elements

FIG. 17 is a left rear view of the Backup Aiming Reticle Light Path

FIG. 18 is a diagram of the Menu Based Display System

FIG. 19 is a rear view of the Rotating the Optical Display

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Combat Information System 1 comprises; a heads up display 2, one ormore sensors 3 providing data to said heads up display 2, one or moretransmitters 5 for sending data via a communications link 6, one or morereceivers 7 for receiving data via a communications link 6.

The Combat Information System 1 may be used in several differentembodiments. One such embodiment is configured for attachment to afirearm 8 or other hand held weapon 13. In a second embodiment theCombat Information System 1 is configured to be attached to a helmet 9.A third embodiment of the Combat Information System 1 consists of a datagathering unit 14 that does not include a heads up display 2. This unitrecords sensor data and may transfer and/or relay data over acommunications link 6. The Combat Information System 1 is intended toprovide real time information sharing among a team 10 of combatants 11.Some of these combat team 10 members may not be actively engaged withenemy combatants 12 and may be in a position where the informationprovided via the Combat Information System 1 is not attached to either ahelmet 9 or a firearm 8, but is instead displayed on a stand alonedisplay 24. It will be appreciated that each embodiment is optimized foruse under the relevant circumstances. Each embodiment or instance of theCombat Information System 1 is intended to gather and transmit relevantdata concerning the activities of the user 15, transmit that data via aradio, or other, link 6 to other users 15, and receive similarinformation and data via radio or other link 6 from such other users 15as may be a part of the network of users 15. Users 15 not in directcontact with each other may nonetheless communicate by relaying theinformation through users 15 with whom they are in contact.

Each system may include a heads up display 2 permitting the user 15 toaim his firearm 8, conduct his visual survey of the situation andsimultaneously see relevant data received from such other users 15 asmay be a part of the network and view the users 15 own relevant data.

Each system may include one or more sensors 3. Such sensors 3 include,but are not limited to: 1) location sensors 3 such as Global PositioningSystem modules, 2) orientation sensors 3 such as heading, pitch androll, or level indicators for personnel or their firearms 8 or both, 3)shot fired status, including misfire status, 4) Firearm 8 status, suchas operability, rounds used, rounds available and the like. Each systemmay include manual input capability for the user 15, and video input.

Each system includes the ability to store, transmit, or both store andtransmit the above collected data 26. Transmission of such data is via aradio or other link 6 which is operating within a defined network ofcombat personnel.

Each system includes the ability to receive, store, and display theabove data when received via a radio, or other link 6, which isoperating within a defined network of combat personnel. The CombatInformation System 1 provides the ability to limit such communicationsto those Combat Information Systems 1 assigned to personnel within apredefined combat team 10. Each Combat Information System 1 alsoprovides for voice communications among the personnel assigned to apredefined team 10 of similarly equipped users 15.

Some Combat Information Systems 1 include non-heads-up-displays 24 foruse by personnel whose participation with the combat team 10 warrantssuch non-heads-up displays 24.

Certain command and control information may be displayed to the user 15,including but not limited to: mission planning information 27, outsidesensor 3 data, processed sensor 3 data, both that generated within thesystem and provided from outside sources 33, Aiming cues 28, Map data29, alphanumeric data 30. The data to be displayed may be selected bythe user 15 by discrete buttons or an on-screen menu-based system 32.

It will be appreciated that while this system's primary mission is tosupport the needs of individual members of a small combat team 10 inactual combat, the system's data content and operation is also suitablefor training aids 31 and many other uses.

The heads up display 2 projects an electronic or photonic display intothe field of view of the user 15. The focus of this projected display 4is chosen to correspond to the distance at which the users' 15 need torefocus between real-world scenes and the information displayed isminimized for the intended use of the Combat Information System 1. Formany applications this focal distance is best selected as infinity. Thisprojection of information into the user's 15 field of view 16 isaccomplished through a combination of one or more lenses 17, one or moremirrors 25, and one or more semi transparent mirrors 18. The CombatInformation System 1 includes a set of variable tint 19 or movable orboth variable tint 19 and movable elements 20 to adjust for ambientlight conditions. The Combat Information System 1 includes a system toprevent moisture damage to the optics 21. The Combat Information System1 provides a backup aiming reticle 22 as a backup in the case ofelectronics 23 failure. The heads up display 2 and thenon-heads-up-display 24 systems permit mechanical or electrical rotationof the displayed information to allow for viewing from alternateorientations. The heads up display 2 includes brightness controls toaccommodate different ambient light conditions. Brightness controls mayalso be provided for the non-heads-up-display 24.

1) A combat information system comprising: a) a heads up display; b) oneor more sensors providing data to said display; c) one or moretransmitters for sending data via a communications link; and d) one ormore receivers for receiving data via a communications link. 2) Thecombat information system of claim 1 wherein the heads-up display isattached to a weapon. 3) The combat information system of claim 1wherein the heads-up display is attached to a helmet. 4) The combatinformation system of claim 1 further comprising one or morenon-heads-up displays. 5) The combat information system of claim 1wherein said one or more sensors are selected from the set of sensorsincluding: Accelerometer, magnetic compass, inertial compass, videocamera, gyroscope, GPS. 6) The combat information system of claim 1wherein said heads up display further comprises one or more of theenhancements selected from the set of enhancements including: Color,Brightness filter, lens.